Honeymoon Destination: Mexico

Mexico is a favorite place for many couples to spend their honeymoon. In fact it is still the world’s number one choice for their honeymoon destination. It really isn’t so surprising since 4 of their islands are voted in the top ten. They also have some of the highest rated resorts and hotels in the world. You can tell that Mexico has gone out of its way to make them the favorite destination of any traveller.

Its popularity among the Hollywood crowd has also increased its visibility. This is where celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow chose to spend those magical days of newly wedded bliss.

There is much to recommend Mexico as a honeymoon destination. The weather for one is warm here. It is sunny most of the time but do note that Mexico is subject to hurricanes. Hurricane season officially begins in June and ends in October - which understandably is why this is the low season for tourism in Mexico. It mainly affects the Southern peninsula and the Yucatan Peninsula. If you are not inclined to face such inclement weather, plan to have your wedding for the months of December to April.

If you are expecting nothing but desert you may have been watching too many cartoons or movies. There is more to mexico than the dry sands of their northern region. In fact, you might want to spend your honeymoon on the Mexican Caribbean.

Most honeymooners prefer to celebrate their honeymoon near water and Mexico can easily oblige. After all, they have some of the best beaches in the world. Some places that you may want to stay at if you choose Mexico for your honeymoon:

• Cancun - This is the most popular resort in Mexico. It was located in the first area designated and developed for tourism in Mexico, we are forever grateful they chose to develop this place. Cancun boasts of sand so fine it is like talcum powder. You can spend time sunning, swimming or enjoying the many water sports available here. If you get tired of the beach, the island is connected to the mainland and you can easily go sightseeing. You are a but a short distance away from some of the most amazing archeological structures in the world.
• Playa del Carmen used to be a mere fishing town until it was discovered by some visitors to Cancun. The advantage of going here is that your holiday won’t be as commercialized as the experience you’d get if you chose to go to Cancun. You’ll also find some cool craft shops just in case you’d like to take home souvenirs. If you want a simpler honeymoon, try Playa del Carmen.
• If you are thinking Caribbean, you might have Cozumel in mind. It is the original Mexican Caribbean Island and a very popular stop with the cruise ships. In spite of its popularity, the place is surprisingly laid back. The pace is faster while cruise ships are at port but as night falls, once the cruise ships leave, the atmosphere changes dramatically. You may want to take the cruise then stay over til the next one comes by.

More places to go in Mexico coming up.

Honeymoon Adventures

Honeymoons are very special times. They are precious because they cannot be repeated. It is the first time that you go on a trip together as husband and wife. It may be one of the few times that you will truly be alone together - especially if this is a second marriage for one or both of you.

Many a couple wonders, what can we do during our honeymoon? Are we really expected to do nothing but gaze into each other’s eyes all day and all night for the week we are gone? That’s fun but rather boring for some.

Actually, you aren’t expected to spend all your time “shacked up” so to speak. If you go to a place you’ve never been, it is expected that you will probably want to take time and go explore the scenery. Though you can bet that the best parts of your honeymoon are more likely to be about the time you didn’t leave your room.

This is the time to be your boldest. Really get to know each other, be a little adventurous and try things you haven’t done before. Wear the clothes and lingerie you chose specially for each other.

Keep in mind that love and romance is the key to a great honeymoon. If you decide that your honeymoon must be spent actively taking part in all the activities that the resort or country has to offer, then make sure that you do it together. For example, if you have your heart set on doing some extreme sports, choose extreme sports that you will do together. There are places where you can bungee jump as a pair, skydive together and parasail together. You can rent a catamaran, jet ski, canoe, raft or any other ride and enjoy them as a couple. The true spirit of the adventure is that you experience it as a pair.

Adventures don’t have to be so crazy. You can choose to have a gastronomical adventure instead. Sample the verious offerings wherever you choose to go. Discover the local favorites and specialties. Try eating the various exotic dishes, the one’s whose names you can’t pronounce. You probably won’t get another chance to taste them again unless you plan another trip here so make the most of it.

Adventure can be something as simple as finding an island cove to yourselves and pretending you are castaways. Having a picnic lunch or dinner and sun bathing and relaxing beside each other can be just as much fun as exploring the caves or trails of an island.

The best way to have a great honeymoon adventure - talk about what you would both like to do and choose a place that will allow you to do most of the activities you like together. There is no sense choosing to go climb Mt. Everest simply because your fiance is sure to enjoy it when you absolutely hate hiking. That’s no way to start a marriage. Remember love and romance, not just compromise.

Honeymoon Destination: Ibiza

Honeymoons are different for each couple. Some may prefer to be isolated from the rest of the world, never going out during their stay in which case a room in any hotel, resort or bed and breakfast would be good.

On the other hand, there are those who want their honeymoon to be very much a celebration of life. They want to party from sunset to sunrise and laze on the beach during the day. If this sounds like you, Ibiza is the place for you to go.

Ibiza is an island in the Mediterranean. If your idea of a Spanish island is that of a sleepy town then Ibiza will surprise you. It is best known as a party place where the parties run til the morning comes. You can dance the night away together at some of the best clubs in the world.

After partying all night, you will probably want to just rest and spend some time together. You can just hang out in your room or you can laze on the beach and soak up some sun. The weather in Ibiza is warm which is very relaxing. If you prefer to stay away from the salt water, most good hotels and resorts have pools for your use.

Where you stay in Ibiza will depend on your preference in activities. If you are looking for a peaceful honeymoon walking along together and enjoying the beach, San Eulalia is the best place for you to stay in. This is the perfect area for those who really do just want to each other’s company. As a bonus, you’ll have the advantage of being in the center of gastronomy and culture in Ibiza.

If you want to be near the best clubs, you’ll want to stay in Playa D’en Bossa. This is where the superclub space is located, as well as the Borabora bar.

You definitely won’t get bored in Ibiza. There are all sorts of water sports to suit your need for thrills. You can go jet skiing, water skiing, parasailing, wind surfing and even sailing on a catamaran.

If you’d rather get away from the water and keep your feet dry, why not explore the islands historical treasure located right in the middle of the island. D’Alt Vila is a UNESCO world heritage site and it is no ghost town or ruins. It is in fact the oldest part of the island with a thriving community within its walls. It’s a bit of a hike but it is worth it. You must make time to have dinner here under the stars. After all it isn’t everyday that one gets to eat dinner in a medieval castle.

Don’t forget that you are not limited to staying in a hotel. There are many great hostels, bed and breakfast, resorts and villas just waiting for you to decide to call them home for a while. An apartment or villa may in fact be perfect so that the two of you can practice being alone together all the time - not a bad thing at all during a honeymoon.

Honeymoon Planning: Discover the Maldives

If you are looking for a place to have your honeymoon, the Maldives is a good choice to make. This long hidden treasure in the Indian ocean is a perfect gem for honeymooners. This is a place where time feels like it has slowed down and you will feel like you have discovered heaven.

The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls and over a thousand islands south of Sri Lanka. You and your loved one will wake up to the delicious sea breeze and luxuriate in the beauty of living, at least for a few days, on a tropical paradise. You can swim in the sea and work up an appetite.

You can have fun together, with the variety of water sports or you can simply cuddle up and get really cozy like the honeymooners you are. If you prefer water sports, there’s swimming, water skiing, diving, parasailing, wind surfing, snorkeling and even fishing. If you want to get out of the water for a bit, you can go play tennis or beach volleyball; maybe even play some boardgames or go karaoke.

The sky is one of the most romantic things about the Maldives. There is nothing like a spectacular sunrise or sunset; and this is the case everyday in this beautiful place. You should choose a room that matches which aspect of the sun you prefer. The advantage of choosing sunset is that you can watch the stars come out once the sun sets, and if you’ve lived all your life in a city, this will be a real treat. The sky is clear and bright and you’ll be amazed at how beautiful the stars are.

One of the best resorts to stay in at the Maldives is the Soneva Gili Resort and Spa. The resort is a ten minute boat ride out of Male, the capital of Maldives. You will find that the accommodations are all on stilts, so you are literally sleeping over the ocean. They are made from local materials and each features your own over water sun deck and roof top. If you want even more privacy, choose one of the seven Robinson Crusoe residences. These can only be accessed by personal boat so you truly will be alone at last.

If you are looking more for an island getaway, the Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru may suit you more. The shell shaped villas are hidden by lush gardens to give you privacy. Each villa faces the beach so that you get the wonderful sea breezes. They even have four poster king beds for those who want a wide mattress to sleep on at night.

A third place that you may want to consider is the Sun Island resort. It is the biggest resort in the Maldives. You get deluxe room accomodations on the southern Ari Atoll with beautiful white sand beaches, coconut trees and the crystal clear waters of the island. This is perfect for those who like looking at the beach but not swimming it. They have a large swimming pool that you can enjoy during your stay.

No matter which resort you stay in, make sure to try out the available massages. They are absolutely heavenly! They are a great way to relax even further on your honeymoon.

Getting Married in Antigua

Are you dreaming of an island getaway but can’t decide where to go? Don’t worry, you are not the only one. With so many beautiful countries, each with their own wonderful people and gorgeous beaches it can be very hard to choose.

Why not consider having your destination wedding in Antigua? Destination weddings are the best! You get to celebrate your wedding in a beautiful place you’ve always wanted to go and your specially selected guests get to have a vacation as well, not necessarily at your expense.

For the last two years, Antigua has been chosen as the best wedding island. It really isn’t surprising because the place truly is beautiful and the people are amazing. They do love weddings and go that extra mile to make sure that every wedding held there is perfect for their clients: the bride and groom.

One of the best reasons to get married in Antigua is that the process is very easy. There isn’t that much of a waiting period, nor are there residency issues. Your marriage here is quick, valid and legal without most of the fuss that surrounds most bureaus.

You can apply for your special license as soon as you get to Antigua but to make the process go a little faster, prepare as much of the paperwork as you can before you leave. The application form for the marriage license is available online. You can download it from here.

You will also need to have your passports ready. These serve as your valid ID. If you have been married previously, you will need to bring the original divorce decree or original marriage and death certificates, whichever is applicable to your case.

In order to get married in Antigua, you must be at least over 15. If you are below 18 you will need parental consent. Your parent or guardian must give written permission to your marriage in order for your marriage to be valid.

If you plan to get marriage in church, you will need consent from the local parish priest. You may want to make arrangements through your local parish priest before you leave home. It will go easier if you are getting married in a church of the same order. Expect that you may be required to undergo some marriage seminars since the church does not take the sacrament likely and want you to be sure that you too take it very seriously.

Generally, here’s what you will pay for the license:

• Registration fee of about GBP20.29 (US$40)
• Application fee for a special marriage license of GBP76.06 (US$150)
• Marriage officer’s fee of GBP25.35 (US$50)

The rest of your money will go as you choose. When you are in paradise, you don’t really need a lot to make the backdrop for your wedding beautiful, but there are definitly a lot of people willing to help you make everything just as you want it.

Sensibly though, spend the money on your honeymoon. Spend on each other, doing things that you will both enjoy. Make the most of being on vacation and in each other’s company. There truly is nothing more wonderful than being alone together in a place as beautiful and romantic than this Caribbean island.

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